Arrest warrant sought for corrupt Valenzuela judge

Government prosecutors asked the Sandiganbayan Third Division yesterday to issue a warrant of arrest against a former Valenzuela City judge earlier convicted of bribery but who had gone into hiding.

Jaime Bautista, then the executive judge of the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court Branch 75, was sentenced last Dec. 22 to a prison term of six to nine years for accepting a P10,000 bribe six years ago.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Bautista after the bondsman failed to surrender the former judge to authorities.

Court records showed that Bautista was caught receiving a P5,000 marked money as the balance for the P10,000 bribe he demanded from Ranel Paruli, liaison officer of the Sierra Madre Transportation, Inc., in exchange for a favorable court order in connection with a civil case involving the company on March 20, 2001.

The civil complaint was filed by the families of passengers killed in a vehicular accident involving the bus of Sierra Madre in 2001.

Bautista issued a writ of preliminary attachment to the company’s two buses. The bus firm filed a motion to file a counter bond for the release of the two buses.

Based on Paruli’s testimony, Bautista, through the court sheriff, initially asked for P20,000 for a favorable action on their motion. This was later reduced to P10,000.

Bautista signed the release order upon receiving a partial payment of P5,000 in his house in Angono, Rizal on March 16, 2001.

Four days later, Paruli made the final payment, using marked P500 bills in a white envelope, in the judge’s chamber. Bautista was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after accepting the marked money.

The money was found inside Bautista’s wallet only after he underwent ultraviolet examination at the NBI Forensic Chemistry Division.

 The NBI agents attempted to conduct a body search on Bautista during the entrapment operation. However, Bautista refused, citing the absence of a search warrant.

Examinations showed fluorescent specks and smudges on Bautista’s right palm and left hand and on the right back pocket of his pants.

In his defense, Bautista denied demanding money from Paruli, saying that the amount was “too insignificant for him to put his profession and good reputation on the line.”

He also claimed that the P5,000 was an allowance he received from the local government.

Bautista also claimed that Paruli “vigorously” shook his hands upon entering his chamber for the purpose of dusting his hands with chemical powder.

The Sandiganbayan, in its decision, said Bautista’s testimony did not bear the “earmarks of truth and candor.” They also said his version of events was “implausible and does not inspire belief.” – Sandy Araneta